Evaluation of Library Furniture and Anthropometric Characteristics of St. Mary’s Students for Ergonomics Design of Table and Chair

As the design of a workstation can have significant effects on user fatigue, safety and user performance, ensuring that the workstations used in any work systems are agreeable with the principles of anthropometrics have become so important. In this research, a library furniture set (table and chair for student) currently used at a Main Library, St.Maty’s Engineering College, has been evaluated. The study evaluated the potential mismatch between library furniture dimensions and anthropometric characteristics of St. Mary’s students (50 females, 76 males) randomly selected, aged 18-35 years. Thirteen anthropometric measurements of students (Stature, Hip breadth, Mid-shoulder sitting height, Elbow rest height, Sitting height, Buttock-popliteal length, Buttock-knee length, Buttock-toe length, Popliteal height, Thigh clearance, Eye height sitting, Shoulder, Knee height) and five chair dimensions (Chair seat height, Chair seat depth, Chair seat width, Chair backrest height, Back rest width) from the existing library furniture were measured and then compared together (using match criterion equations) and also to identify any potential mismatch between them. The results indicated an all mismatch between body dimensions of the students and the existing library furniture. Also, the data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as means, standard deviations, fifth, fiftieth and ninety fifth percentiles for the table and chair dimensions and student’s body dimensions were calculated using Excel Microsoft Package. Moreover, the data obtained from the student’s body dimensions was compared with the relevant dimensions of the furniture using independent samples t-test (2-tailed) and chi-square test at 95 percent level of confidence. Again, the results showed a degree of mismatch between the student’s body dimensions and furniture dimensions. This may be an indication that the dimensions of locally manufactured library furniture and student’s anthropometric dimensions are at variant. It was thus concluded that the anthropometric dimensions of the st.mary’s students were not employed in the design and manufacturing of library furniture. The proposed dimensions of the library furniture more appropriate for the students were given.